determination of just compensation of CARP covered land

The Regional Trial Court (RTC), acting as Special Agrarian Court (SAC), has jurisdiction to determine just compensation of CARP covered landholdings at the very first instance, and the petitioner need not pass through the DARAB for initial valuation. The determination of just compensation is essentially a judicial function, which is vested in the RTC acting as SAC. The SAC is not an appellate reviewer of the DAR decision in administrative cases involving compensation. The SAC has jurisdiction over the complaint for determination of just compensation, despite the absence of summary administrative proceedings before the DAR Adjudication Board-DARAB (G.R. No. 163361, March 12, 2014)